For Fulham Under-19s on Wednesday afternoon the scenario was simple. Win and they would top Group A and book their place in the Semi-Finals of the Dallas Cup. Draw and they would have to rely on the United States Under-20s failing to defeat Hoffenheim in order to win the group.

It would end up being the latter of the two scenarios which would see the Whites progress after Hoffenheim and the USA played out an eventful 3-3 draw.

A second-half Stephen Humphrys strike was cancelled out but Fulham progressed nonetheless and finished the day top of Group A.

On a typical Dallas day in 26 degree heat, Fulham started brightly after Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson was played in by an excellent throughball by Luca de la Torre. However, the young Icelandic midfielder was unable to get a shot away.

De la Torre was involved again 10 minutes later as some neat interplay between the American, Jayden Harris and Humphrys ended with the in-form striker rounding the Monterrey keeper and firing on target. The goalbound strike was cleared off the line and the teams remained in deadlock.

The stalemate was almost broken 10 minutes later as a rasping shot from 25 yards out passed Magnus Norman in the Fulham net but struck the post and was cleared.

In the humid conditions the pace slowed and Monterrey came close to taking the lead on the stoke of half-time but an effort from point-blank range was sliced wide. The teams remained in a stalemate as the referee brought the first half to a close.

Steve Wigley made a change at the start of second half, replacing Harris with Foday Nabay and his side went close to grabbing the opening goal. After a fine passage of play, Thorsteinsson fired low and hard following a switch but was denied by a smart save by the Monterrey keeper.

The breakthrough came midway through the second half. Josh Walker found Humphrys on the overlap following a de la Torre drive and the striker thundered home off the far post.

After a plethora of changes Monterrey struck back with eight minutes remaining to set up a nervy finish following a close-range effort but Fulham held on and booked their place in the next round.